Gale G. “Peter” Neilsen

OLD LYME, CT — Gale G. (“Peter”) Neilsen, born May 16, 1928, died peacefully at home in Old Lyme, CT surrounded by family on February 1, 2019.

Son of Charles Edward Neilsen and Mildred Burtis Neilsen of Westport, CT, he served proudly as a Medic in the US Navy in World War II having enlisted on his 17th birthday.

Mr. Neilsen, who lived most of his life in Connecticut, frequently visited his wife’s family home in Springfield, NH, which he purchased from the Davises and restored after retirement. Mr. Neilsen was a builder who built homes, condominiums and commercial buildings on the Connecticut shoreline. He established real estate, building and insurance businesses, and co-owned the historic Monroe Building in Madison. He was active in CT Rotary and Chamber of Commerce.

As trustee and director of the Essex [CT] Savings Bank, he helped to navigate the savings & loan crisis of the 1980’s and 1990’s. After he moved to Springfield in 1993, he became involved in community affairs and volunteered at the library. He also wrote articles on New England life for local NH magazines and an historical novel set in a New England mill town inspired by Manchester, NH.